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Kris Bryant Homers, Drives In 4 To Lead Cubs Past Rockies

DENVER (AP) — Kris Bryant launched a long homer and drove in four runs, Ben Zobrist had three hits and also went deep, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies, 9-2, on Saturday night.

Miguel Montero had three hits and drove in three for the Cubs, who spoiled the major league debut of Rockies starter Jeff Hoffman.

Trevor Cahill (3-3) got the win with 4 2/3 innings in relief of spot starter Mike Montgomery.

Hoffman (0-1), a former first-round pick who was acquired a year ago as part of the deal that sent Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto, started off well but ran into trouble the second time through against the NL Central leaders.

Bryant made it 7-0 in the fifth with his 31st homer, a three-run drive that went an estimated 469 feet to dead center.

It was scoreless until the fourth, when Dexter Fowler led with a single, went to third on an errant pickoff attempt by Hoffman and came home on Bryant's single.

Anthony Rizzo followed with a single, Zobrist's double made it 2-0 and Montero beat the shift with a two-run single to right.

Hoffman allowed seven runs — six earned — on seven hits in four-plus innings.

Montgomery was solid in his first start since coming over in a trade with Seattle on July 20. He had started twice with the Mariners but had pitched seven games out of the bullpen for the Cubs.

Montgomery didn't give up a hit until Nick Hundley's one-out homer in the fifth made it 7-1. Cahill relieved Montgomery, who left after throwing 60 pitches.

The Cubs added a run in the eighth and another on Zobrist's 14th homer in the ninth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: CF Charlie Blackmon was not in the starting lineup for the second straight game because of a bruised right toe. Manager Walt Weiss said Blackmon originally hurt it colliding with Washington pitcher Gio Gonzalez on Tuesday. Weiss said he doesn't think it's a long-term issue but as of now running in the outfield is tough for Blackmon.

ROSTER MOVE

The Rockies optioned RHP Christian Bergman to Albuquerque in order to recall Hoffman from Triple-A. To make room for Hoffman on the 40-man roster, Colorado placed LHP Jason Gurka on waivers for the purpose of granting him his unconditional release. Gurka pitched nine games for Colorado last year.

UP NEXT

The Cubs will send RHP Jason Hammel (13-5, 2.75) against his former team to face Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (7-7, 5.29) in the series finale Sunday.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.

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